ate lunch. Our housing coordinator came to put alarms in our walls.
Emailed. Played sports and an awesome FHE game which my family will
play when I come home. xD had FHE with our recent convert Jaque.
Tuesday did studies. Went to Shinn park. Ate lunch, did language
study. Created fliers for a finding idea and did Ward list.
Wednesday we did studies. Went to district meeting. Set up a service.
Planned for the finding idea, which is teaching the Book of Mormon in
a class. Met with Jaque. Ate dinner. Went to ASL.
Thursday went to TriCity. Ate lunch. Did language study. Planned for
the finding thing. Went to Jaque's. Went to dinner. Saw Natalie
Cicairos (whose granddaughter is on the voice!).
Friday did studies. Showed the Joseph Smith movie to Heather. Saw
Jaque. Went to dinner. Got package which I can't open till Wednesday.
xD
Saturday we went to zone sports and had a zone breakfast after. Did
studies. Weekly planned. Went to ACS. Ate dinner at this awesome salad
bar restaurant called sweet tomatoes. Went to Jaque's.
Sunday we went to church. Did studies. Ate dinner. Met with Dani.
That was my week.
STEPP talk: The Gift of the Holy and It's Role In Conversion
"In D&C 39:6 it says "And this is my gospel--repentance and baptism by
water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even
the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable
things of the kingdom." We have been going in this order for STEPP
talks, and now we are talking about the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
how important it is in our conversion.
Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important
parts of becoming a member. Because in receiving this gift, we are
able to be sanctified and cleansed more fully. Elder Boyd K Packer
said in his talk "Guided by the Holy Spirit" that "Every one of us can
be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Our Heavenly Father gave us the Holy Ghost as a gift to guide us in
our lives. In his talk "To Aquire Spiritual Guidance", Richard G Scott
said "Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be
required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability
to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision
for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your
mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost
as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that
a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace
and happiness." Before we are baptized, we don't always have the Holy
Ghost to be with us. He can be with us sometimes, but we can only have
him with us always after we are baptized and as we stay worthy of his
guidance.
Another reason our Heavenly Father has given us the Holy Ghost is to
bring us comfort. Some of my favorite scriptures in John 14:18, 26-27,
talk about when the gift of the Holy Ghost was first given to stay
with someone. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come unto you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
In my life, when I received a testimony that the Holy Ghost would
speak to me, and that the Book of Mormon was true I was thirteen. I
was at girls camp and I would go off with some older girls during
study time and read scriptures with them. Near the end of the week
they directed me to Alma 32:21, and as I read this scripture and on in
the chapter something took me to the Joseph Smith story and as I read
I felt a warmth and peace in my heart and heard in my mind "you know
this is true." As I acted on this and continued doing what my Heavenly
Father asked, I was able to better hear the promptings of the Holy
Ghost. President Henry B Eyring promised "As you obey, the impressions
from the Spirit will come more frequently, becoming closer and closer
to constant companionship. Your power to choose the right will
increase. You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from
the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions
square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have
said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send
His Spirit to attend you." ("The Holy Ghost as Your Companion").
In 2 Nephi 32:5 it says "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye
will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show
unto you all things what ye should do." We as missionaries are
striving to help people understand the Holy Ghost's guidance in their
lives, and that once they are baptized they can have the Holy Ghost
with them always, as they remain worthy of the gift. In the Preach my
Gospel it says "Those who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and
remain worthy can enjoy His companionship throughout their lives. . .
The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth.
He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He
comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He warns us of spiritual
or physical danger. . . The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our
Heavenly Father’s most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy
Ghost we can feel God’s love and direction for us."
When I was younger, around the time of my baptism, my family watched
the Joseph Smith movie. After watching it, I felt really warm and I
was beaming. I also heard a voice in my mind saying, "you know he's a
prophet". My dad told me that I was feeling the Holy Ghost, and that
as long as I stayed worthy I would have that feeling and guidance
throughout my life because I had received the gift of the Holy Ghost
after my baptism. Elder Richard G Scott said "What may appear
initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over
time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings
prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive
from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger" (Oct 2009, "To Aquire
Spiritual Guidance"). Though it is sometimes hard to understand the
promptings we receive from the Holy Ghost, we are promised that as we
try to follow those promptings, we will be better able to understand
what those promptings are.
I know that the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to us for a reason,
and that as long as I remain worthy I may have the Holy Ghost with me
to guide me in all I do. I promise that as you do your best to keep
covenants you make with our Heavenly Father, you will have His gift,
the gift of the Holy Ghost, with you always, and you will be blessed.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Love and miss you all!
Love,
Sister Kelly
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